Alternative energy
The U.S. utility-scale solar PV industry is 60 percent towards the SunShot Initiative’s 2020 goal of making solar energy cost-competitive with traditional energy sources. On February 12, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the U.S. utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) industry is more than 60 percent of the way to achieve DOE’s SunShot 2020…...
On January 21, Kilowatt Financial announced $100 million debt facility with Citi to support residential energy efficiency upgrades. One day later, Joule Assets announced a $100 million fund to aggregate energy efficiency and demand response projects for private equity investors. Overview Although creative energy efficiency financing has existed for decades, new mechanisms are emerging to…...
USDA’s Climate Hubs will establish regional climate science networks to strengthen agriculture and forestry response to climate risks. On February 5, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the launch of seven Regional Hubs for Risk Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change to strengthen agriculture and forestry response to climate impacts. The measure is…...
EPA has issued notice seeking public input to revise the 1977 nuclear radiation standards to reflect recent scientific information. On February 4, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, seeking public comment on potential approaches to revise the 1977 Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for Nuclear Power Operations. The proposed…...
Fueled by technological innovation and favorable state policies, the plug-in electric vehicle market surged in 2013, with year-over-year sales increasing 83%. In its first full year on the market, Tesla Motors reported global Model S sales of 22,300 units for 2013. Most recently, Tesla beat fourth quarter sales estimates of under 6,000 by delivering 6,900…...
NY Governor Cuomo has awarded new funding to advance innovative smart grid technologies to modernize the state electric grid. On February 3, 2014, New York City Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $4.3M funding for advanced smart grid projects aimed to increase electric grid resiliency and efficiency. The funding, awarded by the New York State Energy…...
In last night’s 2014 State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama highlighted energy industry progress as a major job and economic growth driver. The President first mentioned crude oil production outpacing imports for the first time in nearly 20 years, then natural gas production and how if extracted safely, it can serve as a…...
A Solar Foundation report shows U.S. solar industry jobs increased by 19.9 percent, 10 times faster than overall job growth. On January 27, 2014, the Solar Foundation (TSF), a non-profit research organization, released the 2013 National Solar Jobs Census, its fourth annual report on U.S. solar industry employment and projected growth. The report shows the…...
The U.S. and 13 World Trade Organization members have committed to advance free trade of environmental goods to make green technologies more affordable. On January 24, 2014, the U.S. and 13 World Trade Organization (WTO) members – Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, the European Union, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, and…...
Solar carve-outs have been implemented as part of the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in 14 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, helping to support the expansion of solar energy projects throughout the nation. All of these states are on track to meet their long-term compliance goals, and all show increasing percentages of annual RPS…...
EPA has granted oil industry groups’ petitions to reconsider the 2013 cellulosic biofuel standard based on information obtained after the finalized 2013 RFS. On January 23, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled its decision to grant petitions filed by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) to reconsider…...
Increasing solar energy investment opportunities will become available in 2014 as a result of financial innovation helping to accelerate project deployment and cost cutting. Historically, solar energy projects are difficult to finance because of high fixed costs and long investment return terms. As a result, the margin of error on risk evaluation is much greater…...
